UNMC health security leaders hosted a visiting delegation from Kenya to the UNMC Omaha campus on May 9, continuing a global collaboration on biosecurity issues.
In January, the UNMC Global Center for Health Security co-convened a global health security summit in Kenya to discuss future pandemics and health emergencies.
The follow up to the January summit sought to advance collaborative actions toward establishing the Africa Center for Global Health Security in Kenya.
At UNMC, the Kenyan delegation visited the Davis Global Center and Nebraska Biocontainment Unit. The delegation also met with UNMC Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD.
The guests were:
- Emmanuel Nzai, chairman, Kenya Vision 2030 Delivery Board
- Professor Tammary Rotich, deputy vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, Amref International University
- Col. Robert Gatata, head of facility readiness, ICT and security, Kenya Biovax Institute
- Awa Dieye Dieng, regional manager, West Africa, Amref Senegal
- Dr. Tusmo Jama, chair of finance and administration, Kenya Biovax Institute
- Dr. Caroline Kisia, Africa director, Project ECHO, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
- Rachel Wughanga, Africa Center for Global Health Security
At the Davis Global Center, the delegation experienced some of the health care simulation technology in UNMC’s iEXCEL program and engaged with members of the UNMC Global Center for Health Security, the UNMC College of Medicine and the UNMC College of Public Health.
James Lawler, MD, the Global Center for Health Security’s associate director of international programs and innovation, led the group through a tour of the Training, Simulation and Quarantine Center, the National Quarantine Unit and showcased the Isolation System for Treatment and Agile Response for High-Risk Infections patient isolation care system.
Col. Gatata commended UNMC’s advanced equipment and simulation technology, as well as the dedication of its personnel, particularly involving potential high exposures. He also commended UNMC’s ability to offer solutions elsewhere that can actually be transmitted and implemented.
“They are a solution to the world’s problems,” Col. Gatata said. “Their commitment really speaks to the hearts of the need of people, especially when it comes to health emergencies.”
John Lowe, PhD, director of the Global Center for Health Security, welcomed the delegation and expressed appreciation for their visit. He emphasized the critical role of this international public-private partnership in advancing the priorities set during the January Summit to strengthen East Africa’s capacity to manage health emergencies.